Monday, January 2, 2012

Some Republicans that decided not to follow the party line have discovered that the Pierre leadership may have (gasp) interfered with the excellent South Dakota Legislative Research Council (LRC).

We're shocked, shocked, I say!

David Montgomery of the Rapid City Journal reports:

Lawmakers call for subpoenas in intra-party feud

A dispute among South Dakota's Republican legislators continues to heat up, with dissident lawmakers calling to subpoena witnesses for a Tuesday hearing.

Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, alleges that Republican leaders have spied on and obstructed research into bills by himself and other lawmakers. He also says he was kicked off a committee as punishment for raising reasonable environmental concerns a ruckus over a proposed dairy.

... Nelson and others say that committee isn't doing a full investigation and that its chair, Sen. Joni Cutler, R-Sioux Falls, has made public comments showing bias in the matter.

...In the forwarded emails, Rep. Chuck Turbiville, R-Deadwood and the chairman of the Executive Board, replied that he will "refer to my lawyer."...

Cutler, Russell and House Majority Leader David Lust, R-Rapid City, did not answer their cell or home phones could not be reached for comment Friday night.

I became aware last year of what a hard road our excellent Legislative Research Council has to walk when they may report information our one-party State machine does not want to hear.

You may recall LRC was blamed by Rep Don Kopp (as part of his quick back-pedal operation) for accidentally inserting the word "astrological" into the ridiculous climate change denial bill (a piece of political crap legislation if we've ever seen one -- the likes of Jackie Sly (House, R-34) -- a retired educator who should know better -- actually voted for this red meat [tripe?] to the ignorant Republican base). LRC had to lay low and refused to defend their reputation to avoid being attacked by the likes of Don Kopp as part of the "Al Gore climate conspiracy."

So glad someone finally noticed. The LRC is a real gem in our state government and should be defended.